Sensor cleaner

Abstract

A system includes a nozzle directed toward a sensor window and a Venturi valve including a discharger that is connected to the nozzle. The Venturi valve is connected to a fluid input valve and an air source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a nozzle directed toward a sensor window; and 
 a Venturi valve including a suction chamber, an internal nozzle directed to the suction chamber, and a discharger that is connected to the nozzle, wherein the Venturi valve is connected to a fluid input valve and an air source. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computer that is programmed to, upon determining to clean the sensor window, actuate the fluid input valve to open. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that the sensor window is clean, actuate the fluid input valve to shut off. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining to clean the sensor window, first, actuate the air source, and then actuate the fluid input valve to open. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the air source includes a compressor and the computer is further programmed to actuate the compressor to at least one of turn on and turn off. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid input valve includes a solenoid valve and the computer is programmed to actuate the solenoid valve to at least one of open and close. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system has a plurality of modes of operation including an air only mode and a mixing mode. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the Venturi valve further includes a constriction zone disposed between the suction chamber and the discharge. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is fluidly coupled via a hose to the discharger of the Venturi valve. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is mechanically coupled to the discharger of the Venturi valve. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second nozzle directed toward the sensor window; and 
 a second Venturi valve including a second discharger that is connected to the second nozzle, the second Venturi valve connected to a second fluid input valve and the air source. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second nozzle directed toward a second sensor window, wherein the nozzle and the second nozzle are fluidly coupled to the discharger of the Venturi valve. 
     
     
       13. A method, comprising:
 determining to clean a sensor window; and 
 actuating a fluid input valve to open, wherein a nozzle connected to a discharger of a Venturi valve is directed toward the sensor window and the Venturi valve is connected to the fluid input valve and an air source, wherein the Venturi valve includes a suction chamber, an internal nozzle directed to the suction chamber. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that the sensor window is clean, actuating the fluid input valve to shut off. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that a wait time has elapsed, actuating the fluid input valve to shut off. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining to clean the sensor window, first, actuating the air source, and then actuating the fluid input valve to open. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining to clean the sensor is based at least in part on data received from a second sensor. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining to clean the sensor is based at least in part on opacity of the sensor window. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising actuating the fluid input valve to adjust a flow of fluid to the Venturi valve.